Deaths rock quiet street

The bodies of Kathleen Flowers and her 8-year-old son were found in their Henderson home on Friday. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Neighbours of a "devoted" mother and her son found dead at their home in a quiet Auckland street say she had been in financial strife and couldn't find a job.

Police last night named the dead as Kathleen Regina Kim Flowers, 47, and Dominic Flowers, 8.

They are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident.

Detective Senior Sergeant Stan Brown last night refused to comment on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

He said the matter was still under investigation and would be referred to the coroner once inquiries were completed.

"This is tragic for all concerned. Relations of the deceased are devastated and friends of Dominic will find out on Monday that one of their friends is dead and will not be returning to school."

Brown said police and an ambulance were called to the house in Henderson, West Auckland, after an adult occupant arrived home from work after 7pm on Friday.

Police have examined the scene and carried out post-mortem examinations on both bodies.

But Brown said it could take several weeks to determine the exact cause of death because one post-mortem examination "was not as conclusive as we'd like".

Kathleen, known by friends and family as Kim, owned the house with her husband James, who ran a publishing company and worked in information technology.

A business partner said the couple had at least one child together, and shared custody of the man's teenage son from a previous relationship.

Her teenage son by a previous relationship was also a frequent visitor.

Yesterday neighbours in the cul-de-sac said the woman had lost weight in the past three months and looked unwell.

One said Kathleen told his partner her family was in financial trouble.

"She was looking for a job and could not find one."

A woman, who described herself as a "good neighbour" to the dead woman, was distraught at the deaths and said there was no indication of problems.

"I thought she might have come to me if she was in trouble. She was devoted to her children."

Another neighbour said the street was "gobsmacked" by news of the deaths.

"She adored her children. She was a really good mum. She was always outside playing with them."

She said Dominic was "a cute little kid who rode his bike, loved the neighbourhood dogs and played cricket".

Annet Woolford, who lives close by but didn't know the family well, said she was surprised to see police at the house yesterday morning.

"It's quite shocking. You don't expect it. This is a great street with lovely people."